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BNZ scientists have discovered that the thaw of permafrost induced by climate change is causing the rapid decomposition of previously frozen organic carbon in boreal forest soils. This CO2 release is likely to amplify climate warming to the same extent as land use change worldwide.

Photograph of typical thermokarst feature in the Noatak Valley, Alaska.

Old carbon loss and its relationship to total ecosystem respiration for three sites that differ in the extent of permafrost thaw. Growing-season loss of old C from deeper in the soil profile, based on statistical partitioning estimates of mean proportional old C loss multiplied by ecosystem respiration (Reco) flux measurements. Error bars represent the spatial variability of Reco fluxes. The relationship between total Reco and proportional old C loss for the growing season across sites. Error bars represent the interannual variability in C loss estimates; the regression line is shown for n=3 sites.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreements #DEB#9634135 (3/15/97 - 2/29/04), DEB#0236154 (3/1/03 - 2/28/10), DEB#0832652 (5/1/09 - 4/30/15 (Core funding)), DEB#0936498 (9/1/09 - 8/31/14 (ARRA funding)). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.